Grain de Sail, a trailblazer in decarbonized maritime logistics, has unveiled plans for its latest vessel, the Grain de Sail III. This new 360-foot pure sailing container ship will mark a significant step forward in eco-friendly maritime transport and is expected to launch in 2027.
Designed to transport around 200 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) with a maximum cargo capacity of 3,000 metric tons, the ship is projected to cross the Atlantic in 13 days, delivering a powerful message about the potential of wind-powered logistics.
Key Specifications of Grain de Sail III
- Overall Length: 110 m / 360 ft
- Sail Area: 4,000 m² / 43,055 ft²
- Max Water Draft: 62.5 m / 205 ft
- Payload Capacity: 2,800 t / 200 TEU
- Crew: 10 sailors
Innovation and Sustainability at the Forefront
With three masts supporting a sail area of 4,000 m², Grain de Sail III aims to achieve decarbonization rates exceeding 90%. The ship’s retractable daggerboards will enhance upwind sailing performance while reducing draft at docks. Its maximum air draft of 62.5 meters ensures compatibility with maritime infrastructure, including the Verrazzano Bridge and the Panama Canal.
The vessel will feature:
- Hydrogenation technology for autonomous and eco-friendly onboard energy production.
- A wood pellet boiler for heating and hot water, ensuring crew comfort.
- Strong insulation to create a near-passive vessel, minimizing energy needs.
Grain de Sail III reflects lessons learned from the company’s previous cargo sailboats, Grain de Sail I and II, further refining wind propulsion for commercial maritime transport.
Oliver Barreau, Co-Founder and President of Grain de Sail, emphasized:
“With Grain de Sail III, we are displaying our ambitions and strengthening our leadership in the decarbonized maritime transport segment. To make wind-powered transport accessible, we need to change scale, and that’s what we’re about to do with a pure sailing container ship.”
Commitment to Decarbonized Logistics
Since 2013, Grain de Sail has combined its roles as a coffee roaster, chocolatier, and pioneering maritime operator. In 2020, it expanded into low-carbon cargo shipping. Registered under the French International Register (RIF), the company exports French products to New York and imports organic cocoa and green coffee from Latin America. The new vessel will further enhance Grain de Sail’s ability to meet the growing demand for sustainable shipping between Europe and the U.S.
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Source: Business Wire
